The debt-ridden club are free to face Wolves in a televised curtain-raiser on Sunday.

After negotiations stretching into Friday evening with the Football League, the organisation's spokesman John Nagle confirmed the Bantams would take the field.

But that was despite a number of unspecified "outstanding matters".

He said: "The board of the Football League has received the necessary assurances about Bradford's abilities to complete the season to allow the club to begin it against Wolves this Sunday.

"However, a number of outstanding matters remain to be resolved before the board can agree the transfer of the club's share in the Football League to the new owners.

"But the board does expect these to be completed in due course."

The chances of Nicky Law's men opening the season had diminished when a 4pm deadline for a deal on a final rescue package passed without agreement.

The League also required Bradford to secure a financial agreement with the Professional Footballers' Association, who loaned City substantial sums to come out of administration.

Prospective new co-owners Julian Rhodes, a current director, and theme park owner Gordon Gibb were expected to reach a final agreement to take over from outgoing chairman Geoffrey Richmond.

But the League confirmed that Bradford would be allowed to start the season without the two agreements if they could guarantee their fixtures for the whole season.

PFA chief Gordon Taylor had demanded an extension to the Friday deadline to ensure his organisation received payment.

And he remained hopeful the PFA would get its money despite the fact Bradford are free to play on Sunday before they have reached an agreement.

He said: "Acting in haste and repenting at leisure got Bradford into trouble in the first place and we must not go down that road again.

Disastrous spending

"We can't say yes until everything is signed because this is a very serious business with millions at stake.

"We can't afford for that money to be gone and for Bradford to go out of business.

"We've put a lot of work into this and we don't want it to fail now. We are the main financier but I remain hopeful they will be able to pay us back."

A disastrous summer of spending in 2000 failed to stave off Bradford's relegation from the Premiership, and their debts caught up with them in May when the club was placed into administration.

The PFA was forced to step in when Bradford admitted they could not afford to pay their players.

But creditors owed an estimated total of �36m agreed to accept a deal put forward by the administrators last week, freeing the club to start their Division One campaign.